Soap dish



June 16, 1936. w. s. WEIANT, JR

SOAP DISH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 June 16, 1936. w. s.WEIANT. JR 5 SOAP DISH Filed Jan, 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventovPatented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to that class of bathroom and kitchen accessoriesembracing various types of trays, receptacles and the like and it hasmore particular reference to a new and improved soap dish.

In particular, the invention has to do with the discovery and perfectionof a soap dish of a reticular form calculated to compensate foreffective drainage wherein rubber suction cups are employed as uniquehangers; whereby to permit the dish to be attached to and suspended fromthe wall, portions of the bath tub, medicine cabinets and the like.

Concerned with novel refinements and adaptations, I have evolved andproduced a simplified and economical dish construction characterizedespecially by the sheet metal part forming the body, the reinforcingframe, adjustable suction cups and the special adapter brackets orfixtures for efiectively associating said cups with the receptacleportion.

As will be hereinafter discerned, the essence of the invention resides,not so much in the coordination of the special soap dish and particularadapter or hanger bracket, but rather in the specific construction ofthe hanger bracket itself. That is to say, an outstanding purpose andobject of the invention is to provide a unique fixture susceptible ofuse in conjunction with soap dishes and the like wherein it ischaracterized by a longitudinally elongated, U-shaped bracket withdepending end portions constituting proper accommodation means forpivotally mounted suction cups, the cups being spaced apart andadjustable in relation to each other to accommodate varying adjacentangular supporting surfaces.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a soap dish constructed in accordancewith the principles of my invention showing the manner in which it isattached to a vertical wall.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure observed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail front or face elevational view of theespecially formed rubber suction cups.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the sheet metal blank from which thereceptacle portion of the dish is formulated.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary} view similar to Figure 1 showing the mannerin which the two cups may be angled or adjusted with respect to eachother to accommodate wall surfaces either curved or in angular relationsuch as would be at the corner of a tub or the like.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed view show- 5 ing the terminal or endformation of the adapter fixture.

It is believed logical to introduce the detailed description bydirecting attention first to Figure 4. Here is shown the foraminous orreticular sheet metal from which the body or receptacle portion of thestructure is formulated or fashioned. I have found it expedient andpractical to use some sort of light weight sheet metal and this isformed with appropriately proportioned apertures and in particular Icall .attention to the oval aperture 1 which is formed in the part 8constituting the bottom of the receptacle. This opening 1 is merely afinger hole to facilitate lifting of the cake of soap so that it can beconveniently grasped and removed. It is evident that soap sometimessticks to the metal and this arrangement is desirable. Incidentally, itis unnecessary that the material be metal for it may be of wire,bakelite or porcelain form. In reducing the invention to practice,however, I have provided fold lines 9 along the four marginal edges ofthe part 8 and these serve to define extensions which may be describedas a. pair of duplicate end walls l0, a front or outer wall II and arear wall I2. The two walls II and I2 are the longitudinal walls and theone denoted at ll may be further described as the front wall and the one12 as the rear or inner wall. The front wall is quite narrow in respectto the height and width of the other wall and the outer edge portions ofall of the walls are provided with additional fold or score lines l3which serve to define laterally bent attaching lips l4. To these lips Iattach a rather sturdy wire frame l5. This may be accomplished bywelding, soldering or otherwise. It will be noted that the front portionof the frame has depending end members l6 so as to dispose theintervening bar I! on a relatively low plane. This in conjunction withthe low front wall H leaves the entire front of the receptacle or dishopen to permit a cake of soap to be inserted and removed expeditiously.An outstanding feature of the construction has to do with the adoptionand use of the adjustable rubber suction cups l8. These are of duplicateconstruction and I employ two and at the center of the convex portionthereof is an integral vertically bored lug 19 which serves as anattaching and hinge element. Just below this and eccentric thereto is asubstantially segmental shaped boss 20 whose outer face is formed with acurved depression 2| which serves as a keeper seat for the laterallydirected terminal or keeper finger 22 formed on the lower end of theadjacent arm 23 of the U-shaped hanger or adapter 24. This part 24 ismade from wire of appropriate tensile strength and the bight portion isfastened to the rear bar member of the frame 15, or cast in the rim of aporcelain or bakelite dish.

Briefly, then it will be observed, that the receptacle portion, which isof general rectangular form, is of appropriate depth and made fromsuitable sheet material and preferably apertured for ventilation andproper drainage. The upstanding marginal walls thereof are provided withoutstanding lips and attached to these is the wire frame l5. Secured tothe rear frame member is a substantially U-shaped adapter 24 havingdepending arms 23 on which the hinge lugs I9 are rockably mounted andthe terminals or free ends of the arms 23 rest in curved depressionsformed in the keeper lugs 20. This makes for convenient adjustment ofthe suction cups l8.

All of these parts have been carefully selected and mechanicallycoordinated to provide for proper stress and strain distribution,resulting in the provision of a highly satisfactory soap dish. Owing tothe particular arrangement of the adapter bracket 24 and the associatedsuction cups, said cups can be arranged to fit against either a concaveor convex wall surface such as in the corner of a bath tub. As a matterof fact, the cups can be pulled around sufficient far into relativelydiverging position to fit against two walls approaching each other atright angles such as is the case in the cornenformation of the room. Itis evident therefore that the range of utility of this particular typeof a soap dish is believed to transcend that found in similar prior artdevices. I shall not, however, attempt to delve into the variouscommercial phases of the invention and I will depend largely upon theaccompanying claims to portray the structural refinements andimprovements believed to exist in this particular contribution to theart.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or the like comprisinga substantially U- shaped bracket including a relatively long connectiveportion, a pair of spaced parallel duplicate down-bent end portions, theextremities of said end portions being bent laterally in correspondingdirections to function as braces, and a pair of selectively usableindividually adjustable suction cups, said suction cups beingpivotallyattached at their central portions on the intermediate portionsof the down-bent ends of said bracket, the laterally bent extremitiesbeing rockably engageable with the marginal portions of the cups, saidcups being swingable in horizontal planes on vertical axes in the mannerand for the purposes described.

2. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or similar receptaclesusceptible of permitting the dish to be suspended diagonally across acorner of an associated structure comprising a substantially U-shapedwire member circular in cross-sectional shape and including alongitudinally elongated relatively straight bight portion and a pair ofright angularly bent end-portions, said end-portions being ofcorresponding construction and having the sectors adjacent said bightportion straight to function as pivot pintles, the extremities thereofbeing gradually curved laterally to function as stabilizing fingers, anda pair of selectively usable individually adjustable rubber suctioncups, each suction cup being provided on its convex side with acentrally disposed integral lug, said lug being formed with a verticalpivot pintle bore, and the marginal portion of each cup being providedwith a second lug eccentrically arranged, said second lug being ofgeneral segmental form and provided with a concavity, the aforementionedpintles extending through said pivot bores in the first named lugs andthe curved extremities being disposed in rockable contact with theconcavities in the second named lugs.

3. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or the like comprisinga bracket structure including a pair of spaced parallel duplicate downbent end portions, the extremities of said end portions being bentlaterally in correspond- 'ing directions to function as braces, and apair of selectively usable independently adjustable suction cups, saidsuction cups being pivotally attached at their central portions on theintermediate portions of the down bent ends of said bracket structure,the laterally bent extremities being rockably engageable with themarginal portions of the cups, said cups being swingable in horizontalplanes on vertical axes in the manner and for the purposes described.

- WARREN S. WEIANT, JR.

